Data registering and marking machine



March 20, 1962 R. w. FERGUSON ETAL 3,02

DATA REGISTERING AND MARKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25,1960 BY EMERY M. LOW

N 0 mm on Q. .m: E. on 3 0 s50. O MW m9 m9 -.o NM mF m E 8. W m w 3 o3 Amm. km. S. N E. 0 i m R m2 1 N2 J. 6m. m2 2 m. F mm 8 Tm ,5 m2 L 2 :l-.-l T \8 1 8 5 N2 mm mm M. C a 5 $1 mm 8. h n w 5 3 S n 6. .m rx 3 8 -9:1 4 my 8 8 B E i 0% J! mm H ..l..| we l F 8 w 3 a S g N. 3 E i w a J ATTOR/VEY March 20, 1962 R. W. FERGUSON ETAL DATA REGISTERING AND MARKINGMACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1960 INVENTORS. RONALD WFERGUSONEMERY M. LOW

A TTORNEY March 20, 1962 Filed Aug. 25, 1960 R. w. FERGUSON ETAL DATAREGISTERING AND MARKING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. RONALD(FERGUSON EMERY M. LOW

ATTORNEY United States Patent Qfi 3,025,737 Fatented Mar. 20, 19623,025,787 DATA REGISTERING AND MARKING MACHINE Ronald W. Ferguson,Greece, and Emery M. Low, Irondequoit, N.Y., assignors to BurroughsCorporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 25,1960, Ser. No. 51,899 11 Claims. (Cl. 101---95) This invention relatesto machines for registering, and usually for recording, data of the typewhere information such as the decimal digits in an amount to beregistered, or marked on a record web, is entered in the machine bymanually setting input mechanisms to positions representing each item,character, or digit to be registered. Many such machines are used forpunching, printing, or otherwise marking on a record web a numericalquantity or amount to be registered thereon. A common arrangement insuch machines employs a rotatably settable disk, or a settable segmentalmember having the general shape of a portion or segment of a disk,which, preparatory to registering the information, is rotated by anangular amount corresponding to an individual item or digit, severalitems or digits being entered in a number of such members to representthe complete information or amount to be registered in one operation. Insome machines these disks or segments are set simply by moving fingerpieces, aflixed to them, until the desired rotational setting of thesegment is reached; alternatively a keyboard is used, and the punchingof a key moves a stop member into a position such that, during laterrotation of the corresponding segment in the course of the operatingcycle of the machine, this segment is stopped by the stop member at anangular position corresponding to the item or digit to be entered.

In any machine of this type the problem arises of insuring that thesett-able segments or disks are returned to their zero or rest positionsbefore a succeeding cycle of operation of the machine. If some resettingarrangement is not provided, the entering of succeeding informationbecomes more complicated, and erroneous data may be registered orprinted later as a result of leaving one or more of the segments in aposition representing an item or digit previously entered. For example,if a machine which has been used to imprint the number 1000 on onedocument is intended to print a smaller amount on the next document,failure to reset completely the segment for the thousands digit willcause the machine to print during the next cycle of operation a numberhigher by 1000 than the amount intended. For this reason many suchmachines include mechanism for resetting all of the settable segments ordisks to rest position toward the close of each cycle of operation. Thismechanism may comprise simply a spring fastened to each segment, sothat, when the segments are released after the registering or markingoperation, the springs jerk them back to rest position. Thisarrangement, however, tends to give rough operation, and a segment maystick occasionally and not be reset all the way to its rest position.Another problem arises from the fact that some kind of positioning ordetent means ordinarily is required for assuring that each segment isset in one of the positions representing an item or digit, and not in anintermediate position. When any resetting mechanism operates against thepositioning forces exerted by such detent means, the resetting steptends to be rough or unde pendable.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved data-registering machine which avoids one or more of thedisadvantages of such prior arrangements.

- It is another object of the present invention to provide an improveddata-registering or amount-marking machine which provides easy butpositive resetting of the item-setting or digit-setting members.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a data registeringmachine with settable segment members which includes efiicient andeconomical mechanism for resetting automatically the members whosesetting represents the information or amounts previously entered intothe machine, and in which only small forces are required to insurereturn of each settable member all the Way to rest position.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a dependable butinexpensive automatic arrangement for resetting the digit-enteringelements of a manually operated amount-printing machine.

In accordance with the invention, in a data-entering machine, thecombination is provided which comprises a plurality of segmentalmembers, each settable by rotation from a rest position to any selectedone of a succession of data-representing positions; and positioning anddetent means in spring-biased contact with each of the segmental membersfor retention thereof in the positions to which they are individuallyset. This same combination also includes means for resetting thesegmental members, comprising energizing means arranged for actuationonly when resetting is desired; means driven by the energizing means forremoving all of the positioning and detent means from theirspring-biased contact with the segmental members for a predeterminedperiod, and for releasing the positioning and detent means back intocontact with the segmental members at the end of that period; aresetting member ordinarily in inoperative position but adapted to moveinto rotational contact with each of the segmental members; and alinkage between the energizing means and the resetting member forcausing the resetting member to move and carry all of the segmentalmembers which have been set to such data-representing positions back torest position during the aforesaid predetermined period, and forreturning the resetting member to inoperative position.

In accordance with a more specific feature of the invention, thedata-entering device is also a data-registering machine or morespecifically an amount-printing machine which is a combination likewiseof similar elements, this combination comprising the aforesaid pluralityof segmental members, each settable prior to initiation of anamount-printing operating cycle of the machine, to a succession ofdigit-representing positions, one such member being provided for eachorder of decimal digits in the amounts to be printed, and alsocomprising type members associated with each of the segmental membersand movable thereby into positions for printing the individual digits inthe multi-digit amount to which the respective segmental members areset; this combination further comprises operating means for bringing thetype members into inked contact with a web surface during the operatingcycle to register data by printing the amount selected by the settingsof the segmental members.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand funther objects thereof, reference is bad to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view taken from the top of a dataregistering and-marking machine embodying the present invention, with the top coverremoved;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation taken in the directionindicated 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a timing chart representing the operation of several elementsin the machine with reference to the same horizontal axis of abscissas;and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are detailed elevational views of a portion of themechanism shown in FIG. 2, these views representing successive stages inthe operation of the mechanism.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a data-entering anddata-registering machine of a type for marking amounts on a record web.This data-marking machine represents a preferred embodiment of such adevice in the form of an amount-marking machine. It will be understoodthat items of data, such as one of the decimal digits making up amulti-digit number, may simply be entered mechanically in a numeralregister by turning a register shaft through a radial amount equivalentto the item or digit to be registered. Thus the present invention may beembodied, for example, in an adding machine having settable segmentswhich may be set either directly through finger pieces or indirectlythrough a keyboard and stop arrangement, whereupon the amount set isentered in the accumulator registers of the machine, the segments thenare cleared or reset to zero so that they can be set again preparatoryto entering another number into the machine. The embodiment shown in thedrawings, however, is an amount-printing machine of the type which maybe used for registering amounts by imprinting the amounts on commercialdocuments. The amount-printing machine illustrated is designedparticularly for imprinting dollar amounts on checks and othernegotiable instruments.

The machine is provided with a framing structure made up of side plates11 and 12 maintained rigidly upright by tie rods 13 and 14, additionaltie rods being provided elsewhere, as mentioned hereinbelow. In thisamount-printing machine, the combination of elements shown in thedrawings com-prise a plurality of segmental members 16-20. As seen inFIG. 1, a portion of the Width of the machine has been omitted, asindicated by showing all the laterally extending parts broken away,including the parts toward the front of the machine, at the left of FIG.1, and extending to the parts toward the rear of the machine, at theright of FIG. 1. The machine includes, in the portion broken away inFIG. 1, any additional segmental members, of like construction and withall associated elements as required, to make up a total number ofsegmental members suriicient to provide one for each order of decimaldigits in the amounts to be marked or printed. Each of the segmentalmembers has ,a finger piece to permit manual setting, finger pieces21-24 being shown on the segmental members 16-19 respectively, and thefinger pieces for member 20 and for any other such member being omittedfor clarity of illustration. Finger pieces 21-24 are afiixed to theirrespective segmental members 16-19 by arms 26-29 respectively.

The members 16-20 are segmental so as to include at least a portion ofthe full periphery of a disk. In the illustrated embodiment it isconvenient for the segmental members to have the form of complete disks,which include the desired segmental portions and hence may be viewed asa species of segmental members. The disks 16-20 have central holes whichare loose on a disk shaft 31. Shaft 31 is journaled in and passesbetween a pair of inner side plates 32 and 33, parallel to the main sideplates 11 and 12 and supported in spaced relation to each other and tothe side plates 11 and 12 by the additional tie rods 34 and 36 assembledin sections to receive the side plates 32 and 33. Each of the disks16-20 is settable by rotation from a rest position to any selected oneof a succession of dataor digit-representing positions, havingpredetermined angular separations on the rotatable segmental members ordisks, for selecting data to be registered, more specifically theseveral digits in an amount to be marked or printed. For cooperatingwith a detent structure which determines the rotational angularlocations of the positions representing the ten digits 0-9, plus a restposition in addition to the 0 position when desired, a succession ofperipheral lIld6i1i'd tions 37, having the aforementioned predeterminedangular separations between successive digit-representing positions, isprovided on each of the disks. A stop bar 38 (omitted from FIG. 1 tofacilitate viewing of other members) is supported between the inner sideplates 32 and 33 to stop the arms 26-29 of the finger pieces when thedisks are returned to rest position. The bar 38 is staggered to stop thearms 21-23 in a rest position for disks 16-18 coinciding with 0, whilepermitting the arm 29 for disk 19 and the arms for disk 20 and any otherdisks to continue one step farther to a rest position separate from 0position. If the segmental members are not complete disks, then theindentations 37 are provided along a pcripheral portion of each of thesegmental members. Each of the disks 16-20 is seen in FIG. 2 to havegear teeth formed in most of the peripheral portions not occupied by thesuccession of indentations 37.

Positioning and detent means are provided in springbiased contact witheach of the segmental members or disks for retention of the disks in theangular positions to which they are individually set prior to initiationof the marking or printing cycle. These means are shown in the form ofpositioning and detent pawls, of which four pawls 41-44 are shown inFIG. 1. The upper portions of the pawls are in contact with therespective disks 16-19; this portion of the pawl 41 is seen in FiG. 2,where the disk 16 is shown in zero or rest position with the pawl 41 incontact with the first of the indentations 37, which determines the restposition of the disk. It will be seen that, as a disk is set by movingit counterclockwise, starting with the disk in its rest position as seenin FIG. 2, its detent pawl falls into one of the succession ofperipheral indentations on the respective segmental member or disk whenthe disk is in any one of the rest and digit-representing positions. Thepawls have offset extensions 46 to the lower right of each pawl, as seenin FIG. 2, and slots are provided on the right side of each pawl nearthe center thereof. The pawls are pivoted on a shaft 47, on which theymay be inserted through the aforementioned slots passing inwardly fromthe right side of each pawl. Spring-biased contact of the pawls, toposition the disks by forcing the pawls to the bottoms of the peripheralindentations 37, is obtained by the action of individual springs 48,fastened at the ends of the respective extensions 46, whereby the disksare urged to rotate slightly, as may be necessary, so that they aredetained in their preset stable positions, with each pawl at the bottomof an indentation 37, during the amount-registering or printing portionof the operating cycle. Thereafter, during the later portion of theoperating cycle, all of the pawls are lifted automatically out ofcontact with the disks 16-20, which then are cleared or resetautomatically to their zero or rest positions without hindrance from therestraints imposed by the pawls, as will be described hereinbelow. Nearthe end of the operating cycle the pawls are released and their springs48 again become operative to urge the pawls into the indentations 37, sothat the disks are detained and centered in their rest positions andsubsequently in any new digit-representing positions to which they againmay be set prior to initiation of the succeeding operating cycle.

The amount-printing machine, accordingly, also comprises operating meansfor registering during an operating cycle the data selected by thesettings of the disks 16-29. The operating means includes a main driveshaft 51 rotated in a reciprocating operating cycle from an initialposition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, through a forward stroke to a fullstroke position and then through a return stroke back to its initialposition. A large gear 52, having in its side an arcuate slot 53concentric with the center of the gear, is tight on the drive shaft 51near the side plate 11; the primary function of the gear 52 will bedescribed hereinbelow. Additionally, a stud 54 extends from the sideplate 11 through the slot 53 in the gear to limit the rotation of theshaft 51. One end of an arm 56 also is tight on the drive shaft 51, andthe other end of arm 56 receives the free end of a large spring 57secured forwardly of the drive shaft. The drive shaft 51 extends throughthe side plate 11 and carries at that end a handle 58. The angularposition of the handle 58 is shown in dashed lines in the sectional viewof FIG. 2 to clarify the relative positions of the parts, and isindicated also in FIGS. 4-6. The spring 57 urges the shaft into anextreme clockwise initial position, as viewed in FIG. 2, with one end ofthe arcuate slot 53 against the stud 54. Pulling the handle 58 to rotatethe drive shaft 51 through the forward stroke counterclockwise againstthe tension of spring 57 brings the shaft to full stroke position withthe other end of slot 53 against the stud 54. Motion of the handle tocarry the shaft through the return stroke back to its initial positionis assisted by the spring tension. To insure that each stroke is carriedto the full stroke position, a ratchet 59 on the shaft 51 is preventedfrom clockwise motion by a spring-loaded pawl 61 until the full strokeposition is reached, when the pawl passes the last ratchet tooth andswings clear to permit the shaft to travel through the return stroke.

Drive shaft 51 carries drive arms 62, 63 near each side plate 11, 12 foractuating platen drive linkages. The linkage near side plate 11 is seenin FIG. 2 and will be described with reference thereto, it being evidentthat a similar linkage is provided just inside the side plate 12. Oneend of a link 64 is fastened pivotally to the end of the drive arm 62.The other end of link 64 is pivoted by a shaft 65 to one end of a lever66. Lever 66 is pivoted at its other end on a fixed shaft 67. Shaft 67passes between the side plates 11 and 12, and shaft 65 also extendslaterally to link the companion members to the link 64 and lever 66which are near plate 12, so that these shafts serve in both linkages andact to stiifen and balance the operating means. Another link 68 runsforward from the middle of lever 66 to a point which is common to alower toggle arm 69 and an upper toggle arm 71. The lower end of togglearm 69 is secured pivotally on a fixed shaft 72 extending across themachine, while the upper end of toggle arm 71 is fastened pivotally tothe free end of a roughly horizontal arm 73 by means-of a platen drivepin 74. The remote end of the arm 73 is pivoted about a fixed stud 76projecting from the adjacent outer side slate. The platen drive pin 74protrudes from one and of a platen bed 77 near the top thereof (asimilar drive pin extends from its other end), and the bottom of theplaten bed is notched vertically upward throughout its length, so thatthe notch rides on the fixed shaft 72. This structure permitssubstantially vertical movement of the drive pins through a smalldistance while the lower end of the platen bed is constrained to movevertically by the fixed shaft 72. A platen 78 is fixed on the top of theplaten bed 77 and extends thereon across the machine between Markingmembers are associated with each of the segmental members and aremovable thereby into positions for making marks representing theindividual digits included in the amount to which the respectivesegmental members are set. In an embodiment of the invention having aminimum number of parts, these marking members may be placed on thesegmental members or disks themselves, so that setting a disk into adigit-representing position brings a corresponding marking member intomarking position adjacent to the platen 78. However, the various partsmay be positioned more conveniently, and designed better for performingtheir several functions, if a plurality of separate marking Wheels 81-85are geared individually to corresponding segmental members 16-20. Thesemarking wheels are affixed coax-ially at their sides to respective gears86-90, which mesh with the teeth formed on the peripheries of the disks16-20. The wheels 81-85 carrying the gears 86-90 are free to rotate upona large shaft 91 journaled in the side plates 11 and 12. The markingwheels have sets of protruding marking members 92 spaced along theperipheries thereof, several of these marking members being visible inFIGS. 1 and 2 on the peripheral surface of the marking wheel 81. Itappears that the marking Wheels are geared for rotation by therespective disks 16-20 to bring selected marking members into positionsopposite theplaten '78 for making marks representing the individualdigits in the amount to which the respective segmental members or disksare set.

While the use of marking wheels to carry the marking members usually ismost satisfactory, it will be understood that marking may beaccomplished in various ways, using the settable disks and markingmembers of the present invention. When marks are made on a web or sheetsurface to register or record data, the marking members may beassociated with the disks in such a way that setting of a disk causes amarking member to move into a position or location on the surface of theweb which depends in a predetermined manner upon the value of the digitor the nature of the data to be recorded. For this purpose arrangementsare generally well known in which a marking member is incorporated on aslide, the slide carrying a rack which meshes either with the settabledisk itself or with a pinion geared to the disk or carried on the diskshaft 31. In the embodiment illustrated, however, setting of a diskcauses its marking wheel to turn and move the selected marking memberinto a prelocated marking position, in this case at the bottom of themarking wheel directly between the large shaft 91 and the platen 78.

In one form of marking arrangement the marking members, whether carrieddirectly on the settable disks, or carried on a marking slide or ondisks or cylinders such as the marking wheels 86-90, are simply punches,which may have rectangular or round cross-sectional shapes or which maybe in coded groups or shaped to represent characters. In this case theoperating cycle of the machine brings these punches into contact with amember, such as the platen 78, which has the form of a punching die forreceiving each of the punches which may be in punching position. Themarks then have the form of holes punched in the web. In the embodimentillustrated, however, the data are recorded in the form of printedmarks. Thus the marking members 92 are type members movable intopositions for printing, and the marking wheels 81-85 serve as typewheels having sets of types 92 spaced along the peripheries thereof andgeared individually to the corresponding disks for rotation thereby tobring selected types into positions for printing.

If a sliding type bar were used, each mark might have the same shape,since the marks may be distinguished by position alone on the recordsheet. However, the marking members 92 located along the peripheries ofthe marking wheels differ from each other in shape; they may be codemarks of arbitrary shape or alphanumeric characters. Each of the typewheels in the embodiment described herein carries types 92 for printingthe ten digits 0-9, so that setting the disks brings selected types intopositions for printing the individual digits which make up the amount towhich the respective disks are set.

For making a printed impression through inked contact of a type 92 witha record web, a wide ink-impregated or ink-coated ribbon 93 is provided,as shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon being omitted in the plan view of FIG. 1for ease of illustrating other components. The ribbon 93 is supplied ona spool 94 which may be rotatably positioned between spool holders 96and 97 affixed to the respective side plates 11 and 12. A ribbon guidebracket 98, shown only in FIG. 2, guides the ribbon toward the printingline as it comes oif the spool 94. A ribbon guide plate 99 is positionedalong the central and rearward portions of the machine (this plate beinglargely cut out as shown in FIG. 1) and has a depressed portion at itsrear edge over which the ribbon passes as it travels rearwardly and thenupwardly toward a ribbon take-up spool 191. A lower ribbon guide bracket102 is afifixed to the edges of the guide plate 99 at its rear end tosupport the ribbon 93 from below as it passes the guide plate on its wayto the take-up spool. Any conventional mechanism may be used to maintainribbon tension and to advance the ribbon a small amount during eachcycle of operation, and such mechanism is not shown in the drawings.

A record web 103 may be inserted between the type wheels 81-85 and theplaten 78 with the ribbon 93 interposed between the web and the types 92located at the bottoms of the type wheels. The side plates 11 and 12 areslotted deeply to enable insertion of a wide web or long sheet 103.Adjustable positioning members (not shown) may be provided as needed toinsure that the marking or typing is carried out at the desiredlocations on the web 103. The web may have the form of a strip, card, orsheet, and machines of the character shown and described hereinfrequently are used for imprinting amounts on checks, which are insertedas shown for the; sheet or web 103 in FlG. 2.

Referring now to the operation of the portions of the machine describedhereinabove, machines of this character may be electrically driventhrough their operating cycles. In that event a motor shaft would becoupled through a suitable drive mechanism, such as an eccentric coupledto an arm on the drive shaft 51, so as to rotate the shaft 51 in areciprocating operating cycle. Such a power-operated arrangement is notshown herein, however, since provision is made for manual operationthrough the handle 58. Pulling the handle forward (to the left as viewedin FIGS. 1 and 2) causes the shaft 41 1 to rotate counterclockwisethrough an angle of 115. Reversal of direction during this forwardstroke is prevented by the action of the pawl 61 on the full strokeratchet 59. At the end of the forward stroke, as the slot 53 in thelarge gear 52 strikes the stud 54, the pawl 61 releases the ratchet, andthe return stroke may be carried out with the aid of the return drivespring 57, which has been placed under increasingly great tension duringthe forward stroke.

In the graphical timing chart of MG. 3, the horizontal axis representsthe angular displacement of the drive shaft 51 from its rest position,passing from to 115 on the forward stroke and back to 0 on the returnstroke. The position of the faces of the types 592 relative to the uppersurface of the web 103 supported by the platen 7%, allowing for thethickness of the intervening ribbon 93, is represented by the curve 106in the lower portion of FIG. 3. The vertical axis of ordinates of thelower portion of FIG. 3 is subdivided at the left of the chart inthousandths of an inch of free space between the type and the platen. Asthe handle 58 is pulled toward the front of the machine, the drive shaft51 turns until the drive arms 62 and 63 reach the full stroke positionshown in dashed lines for arm 62 in FIG. 2. During this operation thearm pulls the link 64 upward, rotating lever 66 counterclockwise as seenin FIG. 2, which in turn pulls the link 68 toward the right and tends topull the toggle arms 6 and 71 into vertical alignment. Guided by the arm73, the right end of which performs a small arc in a direc tionsubstantially vertically upward, the platen drive pin 74 moves upwardlyand carries the platen bed 77 with it, the forked lower end of theplaten bed sliding upwardly on the fixed shaft 72. In this way theplaten bed carries the platen 78 upwardly during the forward stroke. Thefree space between the platen and the types on the type wheels 81-35thus decreases until, at point 167 on the curve 1%, the marking or typemembers are brought into marking or inked contact through the ribbon 93with the upper surface of the web 103 when the drive shaft is in theneighborhood of its full stroke position. As the platen is pressedupwardly beyond the point 107, relative motion between the platen andthe type cannot occur except for a moderate compression of the ribbonand the web beneath the type face, but some additional effective motionof the platen still takes place until the full stroke position actuallyis reached at the point 168 on curve 106, represented by a platenposition indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 2. This added motion of theplaten appears as a corresponding distortion in the side plates 11 and12, which as mentioned above are grooved deeply to receive the recordweb 10 3 from the front of the machine, bringing the portions of theside plates above and below the groove slightly closer together andincreasing the printing pressure. On the return stroke the pressuredecreases, and the printing couple opens and the platen starts towithdraw from the record web at the point 169 on curve 106. Thus thetype members come into inked contact with the web surface in theneighborhood of the full stroke position, corresponding to angularpositions between the points 107 and 1119 on the curve 106 of FIG. 3, toprint the amount selected by the settings of the segmental members ordisks. Of course, if alphanumeric types are not used, the markingmembers associated with the segmental members are brought similarly intomarking contact with the web surface during the operating cycle to makeholes or other marks in or on the web representing the amount selectedby the settings of the segmental members. If on the surface of the web,the marks need not be made in an ordinary ink, but may be, for example,of a special magnetic, conductive, or fluorescent ink, and need not evenbe visible under ordinary light.

Describing further the machine as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cammember 111 is rotatable through one revolution by the operating meansduring each operating cycle, the aforesaid one revolution startin onlyafter the amount-marking or -printing is substantially completed, thatis, when the printing couple is almost or completely open, such openingoccurring as the point 169 is reached in the curve 106. It will beevident from the foregoing description that the above-designatedoperating means ineludes the drive shaft 51, reciprocated by the handle58, and the linkage from the drive arms 62, 63 to the toggle 69, 71which raises and retracts the platen 78 to close and open the printingcouple. To provide the single timed revolution of the cam 111, a smallgear 112 is mounted on a stub shaft 113 on the side plate 11 so as to bein mesh with the large gear 52 on the drive shaft 51. Fastenedconcentrically on one side of the gear 112 is a ratchet wheel 114 havingonly a single tooth 116. The throw of the drive shaft during the forwardand return strokes, and the ratio of the gears 52 and 112, is such thatthe ratchet wheel is geared to the drive shaft for a rotation, duringthe forward stroke, of more than one revolution but less than tworevolutions of the ratchet wheel and for the same rotation thereof inthe reverse sense, of course, during the return stroke. In the machineillustrated, for a full stroke rotation of 115 of the main shaft and thelarge gear 52, the small ratchet gear 112 has a rotation of about 523,corresponding to a gear ratio of 50:11, or somewhat less than 1%revolutions.

The cam 111, is rotatable on an axis concentric with that of the ratchetwheel 114, and as shown is mounted loose on the same stub shaft 113. Adriving pawl 117 is pivotally mounted on a pin 118, fixed to the side ofthe cam 111, so that the pawl engages the single tooth 116 of theratchet wheel 114 only When the small gear 112 is rotatedcounterclockwise (FIG. 2) past the one point of engagement at the tooth116. Since the drive shaft 51 and large gear 52 rotate clockwise, todrive the small gear 112 counterclockwise, only on the return stroke,the driving pawl can engage the ratchet wheel only during the returnstroke. As seen in FIG. 2, which shows the positions of the parts at thestart and end of the operating cycle, the driving pawl 117 is at thepoint of engagement with the tooth 115 at the start of the cycle.However, the ratchet wheel rotates in the sense which carries the tooth116 away from the pawl for one full revolution and almost a half ofanother revolution during the forward stroke, and almost one third ofthe return stroke has been accomplished before the ratchet wheel hasreturned in the reverse sense, that is, counterclockwise, to theposition of engagement of its tooth 116 with the pawl 117. Consequently,the driving pawl is mounted on the cam for engaging the single tooth ofthe ratchet wheel only during the last full revolution of theratchet-wheel in this reverse sense, whereby the cam 111 rotates duringeach operating cycle through one revolution, counterclockwise as seen inFIG. 2, starting only after the amount-printing is substantiallycompleted.

The cam 111 with its driving arrangement, including the gears 52 and112, the ratchet 114, and the pawl 117, thus constitute energizing meansfor the mechanism, about to be described, operated by the cam, thisenergizing means being moved by the main drive shaft 51 of the operatingmeans during each operating cycle but only after the data-registering,or more specifically the amountmarking or -printing, is substantiallycompleted. It will appear that this energizing means is arranged foractuation only when resetting of the segmental members to their restpositions is desired. This occur during each operating cycle after thedata-registering is completed, unless a disabling means, to be describedhereinbelow, is moved into a position for preventing automaticresetting, in which event the energizing means (or more specifically thepawl 117 and cam 1-11 thereof) is not actuated at all during theoperating cycle. I

Means is provided, driven by the cam 111 of this energizing means, forremoving all of the positioning and detent means or individual pawls 41et seq. from their spring-biased contact with the segmental members ordisks 1641) at the beginning of a predetermined portion of the operatingcycle and for releasing these pawls back into contact with the segmentalmembers at the end of that portion of the cycle. This means for movingthe pawls comprises cam-follower means operated by the cam 111, andincludes specifically a cam follower 120 riding on the peripheralcamrning surface of the cam 111. The cam follower 120 has the shape of arod, the outer end of which has a roller to contact the cam, and whichextends inwardly beneath the inner side plate 32 to connect at its innerend with a yoke bow 121. This how is one of a pair of bows 121 and 122located just inside the inner side plates 32 and 33 respectively. Thesebows are connected by a yoke cross member 123 and are pivoted at theirupper left ends, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the same shaft 47 aboutwhich the detent pawls 41-44 rock. The yoke structure is completed by anupper pin 124 and a lower pin 125, which pass between the yoke bows 121and 122 parallel to the pawl shaft 47. Springs 126 are connected to thebows to urge the yoke structure 121-125 counterclockwise (FIG. 2) aboutthe shaft 47 and maintain the follower 129 on the camming surface.

The cam-follower means 121L126 thus carries a pawlcontacting arrangementin the form of the upper pin 124 passing near the upper surface of theoffset extension 46 of each pawl and the lower pin 125 passing near thelower surface of each extension 46. The cam-follower means cooperateswith the cam 111, through downward pressure of the upper pin 124 on thepawl extensions 46 when the follower rides toward a high point on thecam, for causing the pawl-contacting pin 124 to rock all of the pawlsout of their spring-biased contact with the respective segmental membersor disks 16-20 during an earlier portion of each revolution of the cammember, and thereafter for releasing the pawls back into contact withthe respective segmental members or disks when the follower 120 reachesa camming surface having a smaller radius.

A resetting member 127 is provided which ordinarily is in inoperativeposition but which is adapted to move into rotational contact with eachof the segmental members or disks 16-20. The resetting member 127 is abail, passing through similarly shaped slots 128 in each of the disks16-20, and having arms 129 and 131 tight on the shaft 31 which carriesthe disks. A linkage in the form of a crank member 132 is providedbetween the energizing means, as represented by the cam 111, and theresetting bail 127 for causing the bail to move and carry all of thesegmental members 1620 which have been set to registering ordigit-representing positions back to rest position during theaforementioned predetermined portion of the operating cycle, and forthen returning the resetting member 127 to its inoperative position. Thecrank 132 is fastened eccentrically to the side of the cam 111 by a pin133 and is connected at its other end to a lever 134 which is tight onthe disk shaft 31. This connection is made through a pin 136 which ridesin a slot near the end of the crank 132, permitting some lost motion inthe linkage between the cam 111 and the resetting bail 127. Thus thecrank 132 is rotatable with the cam 111 and is linked with the resettinghail 127 for moving it into contact with all of the segmental members ordisks which have been set to digit-representing positions. Specifically,the bail 127 is adapted to contact the lower left ends of the slots 128,as seen in FIG. 2, and rotate the disks back to rest position while thepawls 41 et seq. are rocked out of spring-biased contact with thesegmental members or disks.

When marking or type wheels 81S5 are utilized, so that the markingmembers or types are not placed directly on the settable disks, it hasbeen found advisable to provide additional locking members which centerand lock the type wheels in their selected positions for marking orprinting. Thus, referring to FIG. 2, a locking dog 137 is pivoted on ashaft 138 and urged counterclockwise by a spring 139 into centering andlocking contact with a tooth on the type wheel gear 86. It will beunderstood that a similar locking dog (not shown) i properly providedfor contacting the gear associated with each other type wheel to lockthe wheel when in one of the positions at which a type 92 is presentedto the platen 78 for printing. The shaft 138 carries also a locking doglifter 141 held by arms 14-7 and 148. Means, not shown, is provided forrotating the shaft 138 clockwise so that the lifter 141 rotates thelocking dogs clockwise out of contact with the type wheels.

Machines of the character described advantageously are provided with avisual indicator to show the operator the digit-representing position towhich each disk has been set. In the embodiment illustrated, thisarrangement includes a series of indicating wheels rotatable on theshaft-shaped tie rod 36. For convenience of illustration, only two ofthe indicating wheels are shown in the drawings. Wheel 142 carriesconcentrically a gear 143 (in the same plane as the gear 86 and hidingit in FIG. 1 but not in FIG. 2) which meshes with the teeth on the disk16, while wheel 144 carries a gear 145 (above the gear 87 and hidinggear 87 in FIG. 1) which meshes with the gear teeth on the disk 17. Theindicating wheels 142 and 144 carry numbers on their peripheries, a fewof which are shown on the wheel 142 in FIG. 2, which may be viewed bythe operator through a hole or slit in the cover (not shown) of themachine to indicate the settings of the disks and the correspondingpositions of the type wheels and indicator wheels.

Describing now the operation of the cam 111 and the mechanisms driven byit, reference may be had again to FIG. 3, in which the curve 151represents qualitatively the rotation of the resetting bail 127 as afunction of the angular position of the drive shaft 51. During theforward stroke of the operating cycle the handle 58 is pulled forward(left in F1. 2), whereby the large gear 52 on the drive shaft 51 causesthe single-toothed ratchet 114 to rotate clockwise from the positionshown in FIG. 2 through a full revolution and then to continue throughalmost another half revolution, at which time the handle 58 is in itsextreme forward position and the drive arm 62 has reached the positionshown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. This point corresponds to the verticalline 152 through the curves of the PEG. 3 graph. As the handle returnsand the printing couple starts to open, the ratchet 114 rotatescounterclockwise until just one revolution remains during the returnstroke, at which point the ratchet 114 has returned again to a positionwhere the driving pawl 117 is contiguous to the tooth 116 on the ratchet114. This point is represented by the vertical line 153 on the FIG. 3graph.

The position of the various element in question at the stagecorresponding to 153 on the graph is illustrated in the partialelevational view of FIG. 4, Where the angular positions of the handle 58and the drive arm 62 are indicatcd in dashed lines for comparison withtheir rest positions shown in FIG. 2. The return stroke has carried thedrive arm 62 from the position shown dashed in FIG. 2 to the horizontalposition indicated in FIG. 4. Further counterclockwise rotation of theratchet 114 during the balance of the return stroke Causes the tooth 116to engage the driving pawl 117 and drive the cam 111 through onerevolution. This carries the mechanism through the positions representedin the partial elevational views of FIGS. 5 and 6, corresponding to thevertical lines 154 and 155 respectively in the FIG. 3 graph. At thestage represented in FIG. 5, the link 132. has moved leftward until thepin 136 has been engaged by the right end of the slot in the crank 132,and the resetting bail 127 then has been moved counterclockwise aboutthe disk shaft 31 through an arc long enough to pick up the disks whichhave been set to extreme positions. As the mechanism continues to movetoward the stage represented in FIG. 6, the bail 127 contacts all of thedisks which had been set, and at the point 155 has carried them to theirrest positions with the arms 26-29 against the stop bar 33. As the cyclecontinues, the eccentric connection of the crank 132 on the cam 111 movethe crank toward the right, again taking up the lost motion of the pin136 in the slot on the crank 132 and returning the resetting bail 127 toits inoperative position, as shown in FIG. 2. The motion of the bail 127clockwise about the shaft 31 to reset the disks is represented by thedownwardly extending portion 156 of the curve 151 in FIG. 3, while thereturn of the bail to its inoperative position is repre sented by theupwardly extending portion 157 of this curve near the end of theoperating cycle. The positions of the arm of the handle 58 and of thedrive arm 62 are indicated also in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the stages 154 and155 during the return of the drive shaft 51 toward the initial positionrepresented in FIG. 2.

As the return stroke proceeds from the stage identified as 153 in FIG. 3and illustrated in FIG. 4, cam 111 and the cam-follower means haveoperated to rock the detent pawls 41 ct seq. away from contact with thedisks 16-20. The motion of the pawls is represented by the curve 158 inFIG. 3. During the entire portionof the operating cycle from theposition shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 4, the cam-follower 120remains seated in a small depression 161 in the camming surface. Theshape of the camming surface is best seen in FIGS. 4-6. As soon as thetooth 116 engages the driving pawl 117 and begins to turn the cam 111,starting at the stage 153 in FIG. 3, the follower 120 climbs out of thedepression 161. This causes the yoke assembly 121-125 to start rotatingclockwise so that the pin 124 commences to push against the upper edgeof the offset extension 46 on each detent pawl. During the first quarterrevolution of the cam 111, the follower 120 rides to the highest pointon the camming surface, causing all of the pawls to be rocked againstthe biasing force of the springs 43 so that the pawls move clear of theindentations 37 and of the interdontal portions therebetween on thedisks 16-20. This motion of the pawls is represented by the risingportion 162 of the curve 158. The follower 120 now remains atitsposition of maximum travel while the cycle proceeds through theposition 154, represented in FIG. 5.

Cir

As the cam 111 approaches the position shown in FIG. 6, however, thefollower commences to fall sharply into a deep depression 163 in thecamming surface, causing a rapid return of the pawls into contact withth disks. This motion of the pawls is represented by the falling portion164 of curve 158.

At this same stage 155, however, the disks which have been reset by thebail 127 have just reached their rest positions, as indicated in FIG. 6and by the curve 151, and there is a tendency of the disks to vibrate orrecoil from the stop bar 38 as they decelerate from the resettingrotation. The pawls now are seated in the peripheral indentations 37 forthe rest positions of the disks. To stabilize the disks quickly in theirrest positions, the cam-follower means cooperates further with the cam111 for causing the pawl-contacting arrangement not only to release thepawls back into spring-biased contact with the respective disks when thedisks thus have been reset to rest position, as represented by theportion 164 of curve 158, but also for a short time immediatelythereafter to retain the pawls in substantially fixed position withinthese respective peripheral indentations on the disks. This cam-followeraction is achieved by making the depression 163 in the camming surfacedeep enough so that the yoke springs 126 pull the yoke and its lower pinagainst the lower edge of the offset extensions 46 on the pawls. Thisretains the pawls within the indentations on the disks while thefollower remains in the bottom of the depression 163, so that the pawlscannot retract against the action of the biasing springs 48. Theadditional motion of the pin 125 to achieve this pawl-retaining positionis represented by the dotted depression 165, added to the curve 158which represents the pawl position. After a short hold in the depression163, the cam follower rises to a plateau on the camming surface andstays there during the brief remainder of the opera-ting cycle, fallingback into the depression 161 as the cam reaches the rest position andthe cycle ends.

Referring to the curves 151 and .158 in FIG. 3, it will be seen, asmentioned hereinabove, that the detent pawls are removed fromspring-biased contact with the disks at the beginning of a predeterminedportion 153-155 of the operating cycle and are released back intocontact with the disks at the end of that portion of the cycle. Theresetting bail 127, through the eccentric connection of the crank 132 tothe cam i111, is caused to carry all of the disks back to rest position,as represented by the portion 156 of curve 151, during thispredetermined portion of the cycle, during which the pawls are held outof contact with the disks.

The motion of the locking dogs 137 through a suitable linkage, notshown, with the driving arrangement is represented by the curve 166 inFIG. 3. Early in the operating cycle the locking dogs are permitted tobe drawn by the spring 139 into positions to lock each of the typewheels, which had been set to the desired printing positions byadjustment of the disks 16-29 prior to the operating cycle. The lockingdogs remain in locked position thereafter until the printing couple isabout to open. Between the stages 153 and 154 of the operating cycle,the locking dog lifter is actuated to pull the dogs away from the gearsattached to the type wheels. Thus, by the time the resetting bail 127contacts the disks to return them to rest posiions, he type wheels havebeen unlocked. The timing of these motions is evident from the curves ofFIG. 3. One object of the present invention is to remove the restrainexerted on he setting disks by the positioning and detent pawls 41 etseq. during the operation of the resetting bail 1.27. Attainment of thisobject will not be realized, of course, unless any restraints upon themotion of members coupled to the setting disks also are removed duringthe resetting operation. I t has been found advisable for accuracy ofprinting to lock the type wheels during the printing operation,independently of the positioning and detent action of the l3 pawls 41 etseq. on the setting disks. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will beable to provide suitable means for effecting the desired retraction ofthe locking dogs 137 during the resetting portion of the cycle. Onearrangement for retracting the locking dogs is described and illustratedin an application serial No. 51,900 for Letters Patent of the UnitedStates entitled Data-Marking Machine, now Patent No. 2,996,979, saidapplication having been filed concurrently herewith in the names ofRonald W. Ferguson, Emery M. Low, and Paul J. Thut and assigned to thesame assignee as the present application. Application Serial No. 51,900discloses and claims a novel and especially efficient arrangement,operative in timed combination with other elements of such a machine,not only to retract the locking dogs from the type wheels or the gearsaffixed to the wheels at about the same time that the detent pawls areremoved from contact with the setting disks, but also to lock the typewheel gears again before the next printing operation is effected.

Occasionally it is desired to operate the amount-printing machinedescribed hereinabove in consecutive cycles of operation to print thesame amount during each cycle. For this purpose it is convenient toprovide disabling means for preventing the resetting of the settabledisks between these successive cycles of operation. Thus, disablingmeans is provided for holding the driving pawl 1 17 in a pivotallywithdrawn posit-ion, out of. engagement with the single tooth 116 of theratchet 114, during any operating cycle in which it is not desired toreset the segmental members or disks. This disabling means has the formof a lever 167 pivoted coaxially with the shaft 31 which carries thesetting disks. The disabling lever has a lower end portion 168 adaptedto be rocked into contact with an upper extension of the driving pawl117. Ordinarily the driving pawl is maintained in contact with theratchet surface by a spring 169. However, backward motion of thedisabling lever 167 where it extends above the machine mechanism forcesits lower end portion-168 to rotate the driving pawl 117counterclockwise about the pin 118 and out of engagement with theratchet. The disabling positions of the lever 167-168 and of the pawl117 are indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 4. While the lever 167 remainsin this position, the operating means passes through the return strokewithout any rotation of the earn 111, so that the motions represented inthe curves 151 and 158 in FIG. 3 do not occur.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be thepreferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention. It is aimed, therefore, inthe appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications whichfall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a data-registering machine adapted for actuation in successivediscrete operating cycles each having a predetermined sequence ofoperations, the combination comprising: a plurality of segmentalmembers, each settable, prior to actuation of an operating cycle, byrotation from a rest position to any selected one of a succession ofregistering positions for entering data to be registered; positioningand detent means in spring-biased contact with each of said segmentalmembers for retention thereof in the positions to which they areindividually set; operating means actuated during the operating cyclefor registering the data selected by the settings of said segmentalmembers in said selected registering positions; energizing means movedby said operating means during each operating cycle but only after saiddata-registering is substantially completed; means driven by saidenergizing means for removing all of said positioning and detent meansfrom said spring-biased contact with said segmental members, saidremoving being eflected at the beginning of a predetermined portion ofthe operating cycle which begins after said data-registering issubstantially completed, and for releasing said positioning and detentmeans back into contact with the segmental members at the end of saidpredetermined portion of the cycle; a resetting member ordinarily ininoperative position but adapted to move into rotational contact witheach of said segmental members; and a linkage between the energizingmeans and the resetting member for causing the resetting member to moveand carry all of the segmental members which have been set to saidregistering posit-ions back to reset position during said predeterminedportion of the operating cycle and for returning the resetting member toinoperative position.

2. In a data-registering machine for marking amounts on a record web,the combination comprising: a plurality of segmental members, one foreach order of decimal digits in the amounts to be marked, each settable,prior to initiation of a data-registering operating cycle of the machineduring which marking is effected, by rotation from a rest position toany of a succession of digitrepresenting positions for selecting theseveral digits in an amount to be marked; positioning and detent meansin spring-biased contact with each of said segmental members forretention thereof in the positions to which they are individually set;marking members associated with each of said segmental members andmovable thereby into positions for making marks representing theindividual digits in said amount to which the respective segmentalmembers are set; operating means for bringing said marking members intomarking contact with a web surface during an operating cycle to placemarks on the web representing the amount selected by the settings ofsaid segmental members; energizing means moved by said operating meansduring each operating cycle but only after said amount-marking issubstantially completed; means driven by said energizing means forremoving all of said positioning and detent means from saidspring-biased contact with said segmental members at the beginning of apredetermined portion of the operating cycle and for releasing saidpositioning and detent means back into contact with the segmentalmembers at the end of said portion of the cycle; a resetting memberoridinarily in inoperative position but adapted to move into rotationalcontact with each of said segmental members; and a linkage between theenergizing means and the resetting member for causing the resettingmember to move and carry all of the segmental members which have beenset to said digit-representing positions back to rest posit-ion duringsaid predetermined portion of the operating cycle and for returning theresetting member to inoperative position.

3. In a data-marking machine for marking amounts on a record web, thecombination comprising: a plurality of segmental members, one for eachorder of decimal digits in the amounts to be marked, each settable,prior to initiation of a data-marking operating cycle of the machine, byrotation from a rest position to any of a succession ofdigit-representing positions, having predetermined angular separationson said rotatable segmental members, for selecting the several digits inan amount to be marked; a succession of indentations, having saidpredetermined angular separations, along a peripheral portion of each ofthe segmental members; a plurality of positioning and detent pawls, eachin spring-biased contact with one of said peripheral indentations on arespective segmental member when said member is in any one of said restand digit-representing positions; marking members associated with eachof said segmental members to place marks on the web representing theamount selected by the settings of said segmental members; a cam memberrotatable through one revolution by said operating means during eachoperating cycle, said one revolution starting only after saidamount-marking is substantially completed; cam-follower means operatedby said cam member for rocking all of the pawls out of saidspring-biased contact with the respective segmental members during anearlier portion of each revolution of the cam member and thereafter forreleasing said pawls back into contact with the respective segmentalmembers; a resetting member ordinarily in inoperative position butadapted to move into rotational contact with each of said segmentalmembers; and a crank member, rotatable with said cam member, linked Withthe resetting member for moving it into contact with all of thesegmental members which have been set to digit-representing positionsand rotating such members back to rest position while said pawls arerocked out of spring-biased contact with the segmental members, and forreturning the resetting member to inoperative position.

4. In an amount-marking machine, the combination comprising: a pluralityof se mental members, one for each order of decimal digits in theamounts to be marked,

each settable, prior to initiation of an amount-marking operating cycleof the machine, by rotation from a rest position to any of a successionof digit-representing positions, having predetermined angularseparations on said rotatable segmental members, for selecting theseveral digits in an amount to be marked; a succession of inclentations,having said predetermined angular separations, along a peripheralportion of each of the segmental members; a plurality of positioning anddetent pawls, each in spring-biased contact with one of said peripheralindentations on a respective segmental member when said member is in anyone of said rest and digit-representing positions; a plurality ofmarking wheels, having sets of marking members spaced along theperipheries thereof, and geared individually to corresponding segmentalmembers for rotation thereby to bring selected marking members intopositions for making marks representing the individual digits in saidamount to which the respective segmental members are set; operatingmeans for bringing said marking members into marking contact with a websurface during an operating cycle to place marks on the web representingthe amount selected by the settings of said segmental members; a cammember rotatable through one revolution by said operating means duringeach operating cycle, said one revolution starting only after saidamount-marking is substantially completed; cam-follower means operatedby said cam member for rocking all of the pawls out of saidspring-biased contact with the respective segmental members during anearlier portion of each revolution of the cam member and thereafter forreleasing said pawls back into contact with the respective segmentalmembers; a resetting member ordinarily in inoperative position butadapted to move into rotational contact with each of said segmentalmember-s; and a crank member, rotatable with said cam member, linkedwith the resetting member for moving it into contact with all of thesegmental members which have been set to digit-representing positionsand rotating such members back to rest position while said pawls arerocked out of spring-biased contact with the segmental members, and forreturning the resetting member to inoperative position.

5. In an amount-printing machine, the combination comprising: aplurality of segmental members, one for each order of decimal digits inthe amounts to be printed, each settable, prior to initiation of anamount-printing operating cycle of the machine, by rotation from a restposition to any of a succession of digit-representing positions forselecting the several digits in an amount to be printed; positioning anddetent means in spring-biased contact with each of said segmentalmembers for reten- 1% tion thereof in the positions to which they areindividually set; type members associated With each of said segmentalmembers and movable thereby into positions for printing the individualdigits in said amount to which the respective segmental members are set,operating means for bringing said type members into inked contact with aweb surface during the operating cycle to print the amount selected bythe settings of said segmental members; energizing means moved by saidoperating means during each operating cycle but only after saidamount-printing is substantially completed; means driven by saidenergizing means for removing all of said positioning and detent meansfrom said spring-biased contact with said segmental members at thebeginning of a predetermined portion of the operating cycle and forreleasing said positioning and detent means back into contact with thesegmental members at the end of said portion of the cycle; a resettingmember ordinarily in inoperative position but adapted to move intorotational contact with each of said segmental members; and a linkagebetween the energizing means and the resetting member for causing the resetting member to move and carry all of the segmental members which havebeen set to said digit-representing positions back to rest positionduring said predetermined portion of the operating cycle and forreturning the resetting member to inoperative position.

6. In an amount-printing machine, the combination comprising: aplurality of segmental members, one for each order of decimal digits inthe amounts to be printed, each settable, prior to initiation of anamount-printing operating cycle of the machine, by rotation from a restposition to any of a succession of digit-representing positions, havingpredetermined angular separations on said rotatable segmental members,for selecting the several digits in an amount to be printed; asuccession of indentatioris, having said predetermined angularseparations, along a peripheral portion of each of the segmentalmembers; a plurality of positioning and detent pawls, each inspring-biased contact with one of said peripheral indentations on arespective segmental member when said member is in any one of said restand digit-representing positions; type members associated with each ofsaid segmental members and movable thereby into positions for printingthe individual digits in said amount to which the respective segmentalmembers are set; operating means for bringing said type members intoinked contact with a Web surface during the operating cycle to print theamount selected by the settings of said segmental members; a cam memberrotatable through one revolution by said operating means during eachoperating cycle, said one revolution starting only after saidamount-printing is substantially completed; cam-follower means operatedby said cam member for rocking all of the pawls out of saidspring-biased contact with the respective segmental members during anearlier portion of each revolution of the cam member and thereafter forreleasing said pawls back into contact with the respective segmentalmembers; a resetting member ordinarily in inoperative position butadapted to move into rotational contact with each of said segmentalmembers; and a crank member, rotatable with said cam member, linked withthe resetting member for moving it into contact with all of thesegmental members which have been set to digit-representing positionsand rotating such members back to rest position while said pawls arerocked out of spring-biased contact with the segmental members, and forreturning the resetting member to inoperative position.

7. In an amount-printing machine, the combination comprising: aplurality of segmental members, one for each order of decimal digits inthe amounts to be printed, each settable by rotation from a restposition to any of a succession of digit-representing positions, havingpredetermined angular separations on said rotatable segmental members,for selecting the several digits in an amount to be printed; asuccession of indentations, having said predetermined angularseparations, along a peripheral portion of each of the segmentalmembers; a plurality of positioning and detent pawls, each inspring-biased contact with one of said peripheral indentations on arespective segmental member when said member is in any one of said restand digit-representing positions; type members associated with each ofsaid segmental members and movable thereby into positions for printingthe individual digits in said amount to which the respective segmentalmembers are set; operating means, including a drive shaft rotated in areciprocating operating cycle from an initial position through a forwardstroke to a full stroke position and through a return stroke back to itsinitial position, for bringing said type members into inked contact witha web surface when said drive shaft is in the neighborhood of its fullstroke position to print the amount selected by the settings of saidsegmental members; a ratchet wheel having only a single tooth and gearedto said drive shaft for a rotation, during said forward stroke, of morethan one revolution but less than two revolutions of the ratchet wheeland for the same rotation thereof in the reverse sense during saidreturn stroke; a cam member rotatable on an axis concentric with that ofsaid ratchet Wheel; a driving pawl pivotally mounted on the cam memberfor engaging said single tooth of the ratchet wheel only during the lastfull revolution of the ratchet wheel in said reverse sense, whereby saidcam member rotates during each operating cycle through one revolutionstarting only after said amount-printing is substantially completed;cam-follower means operated by said cam member for rocking all of thepawls out of said spring-biased contact with the respective segmentalmembers during an earlier portion of each revolution of the cam memberand thereafter for releasing said pawls back into contact with therespective segmental members; a resetting member ordinarily ininoperative position but adapted to move into rotational contact witheach of said segmental members; and a crank member, rotatable with saidcam member, linked with the resetting member for moving it into contactwith all of the segmental members which have been set todigit-representing positions and rotating such members back to restposition while said pawls are rocked out of spring-biased contact withthe segmental members, and for returning the resetting member toinoperative position.

8. In an amount-printing machine, the combination comprising: aplurality of segmental members, one for each order of decimal digits inthe amounts to be printed, each settable by rotation from a restposition to any of a succession of digit-representing positions, havingpredetermined angular separations on said rotatable segmental members,for selecting the several digits in an amount to be printed; asuccession of indentations, having said predetermined angularseparations, along a peripheral portion of each of the segmentalmembers; a plurality of positioning and detent pawls, each inspringbiased contact with one of said peripheral indentations on arespective segmental member when said member is in any one of said restand digit-representing positions; type members associated with each ofsaid segmental members and movable thereby into positions for printingthe individual digits in said amount to which the respective segmentalmembers are set; operating means, including a drive shaft rotated in areciprocating operating cycle from an initial position through a forwardstroke to a full stroke position and through a return stroke back to itsinitial position, for bringing said type members into inked contact witha Web surface when said drive shaft is in the neighborhood of its fullstroke position to print the amount selected by the settings of saidsegmental members; a ratchet wheel having only a single tooth and gearedto said drive shaft for a rotation, during said forward stroke, of morethan one revolution but less than two revolutions of the ratchet wheeland for the same rotation thereof in the reverse sense 18 during saidreturn stroke; a cam member rotatable on an axis concentric with that ofsaid ratchet wheel; a driving pawl pivotally mounted on the cam memberfor engaging said single tooth of the ratchet wheel only during the lastfull revolution of the ratchet wheel in said reverse sense, whereby saidcam member rotates during each operating cycle through one revolutionstarting only after said amount-printing is substantially completed;cam-follower means operated by said cam member for rocking all of thepawls out of said spring-biased contact with the respective segmentalmembers during an earlier portion of each revolution of the cam memberand thereafter for releasing said pawls back into contact with therespective segmental members; a resetting member ordinarily ininoperative position but adapted to move into rotational contact witheach of said segmental members; a crank member, rotatable with said cammember, linked with the resetting member for moving it into contact withall of the segmental members which have been set to digit-representingpositions and rotating such members back to rest position while saidpawls are rocked out of spring-biased contact with the segmentalmembers, and for returning the resetting member to inoperative position;and disabling means for holding said driving pawl in a pivotallywithdrawn position out of engagement with said single tooth during anyoperating cycle in which it is not desired to reset the segmentalmembers.

9. In an amount-printing machine, the combination comprising: aplurality of disks, one for each order of decimal digits in the amountsto be printed, each settable by rotation from a rest position to any ofa succession of digit-representing positions, having predeterminedangular separations, for selecting the several .digits in an amount tobe printed; a succession of peripheral indentations, having saidpredetermined angular separations, on each of the disks; a plurality ofpositioning and detent pawls, each in spring-biased contact with one ofsaid peripheral indentations on a respective disk when said disk is inany one of said rest and digit-representing positions; a plurality oftype wheels, having sets of types spaced along the peripheries thereof,and geared individually to corresponding disks for rotation thereby tobring selected types into positions for printing the individual digitsin said amount to which the respective disks are set; operating meansfor bringing said types into inked contact with a web surface during anoperating cycle to print the amount selected by the settings of saiddisks; a cam member rotatable through one revolution by said operatingmeans during each operating cycle, said one revolution starting onlyafter said amount-printing is substantially completed; cam-followermeans operated by said cam member for rocking all of the pawls out ofsaid spring-biased contact with the respective disks during an earlierportion of each revolution of the cam member and thereafter forreleasing said pawls back into contact with the respective disks; aresetting member ordinarily in inoperative position but adapted to moveinto rotational contact with each of said disks; and a crank member,rotatable with said cam member, linked with the resetting member formoving it into contact with all of the disks which have been set todigit-representing positions and rotating such disks back to restposition while said pawls are rocked out of spring-biased contact withthe disks, and for returning the resetting member to inoperativeposition.

10. In an amount-printing machine, the combination comprising: aplurality of disks, one for each order of decimal digits in the amountsto be printed, each settable by rotation from a rest position to any ofa succession of digit-representing positions, having predeterminedangular separations, for selecting the several digits in an amount to beprinted; a succession of peripheral indentations, having saidpredetermined angular separations, on each of the disks; a plurality ofpositioning and detent pawls, each in spring-biased contact with one ofsaid 19 peripheral indentations on a respective disk when said disk isin any one of said rest and digit-representing position's; type membersassociated with each of said disks and movable thereby into positionsfor printing the individual digits in said amount to which therespective disks are set; operating means for bringing said type membersinto inked contact with a web surface during an operating cycle to printthe amount selected by the settings of said disks; a cam memberrotatable through one revolution by said operating means during eachoperating cycle, said one revolution starting only after saidamount-printing is substantially completed; cam-follower means operatedby said cam member and carrying a pawlcontacting arrangement passingnear each pawl, said camfollower means cooperating with said cam forcausing the pawl-contacting arrangement to rock all of the pawrs out ofsaid spring-biased contact with the respective disks during an earlierportion of each revolution of the cam member; a resetting memberordinarily in inoperative position but adapted to move into rotationalcontact with each of said disks; and a crank member, rotatable with saidcam member, linked with the resetting member for moving it into contactwith all of the disks which have been set to digit-representingpositions and rotating said disks back to rest position while said pawlsare rocked out of spring-biased contact with the disks, and forreturning the resetting member to inoperative position; saidcam-follower means cooperating further with said cam for causing thepawl-contacting arrangement not only to release the pawls back intospring-biased contact with the respective disks when said disks havebeen reset to rest position but also for a short time immediatelythereafter to retain the pawls in substantially fixed position withinsaid respective peripheral indentations on the disks.

11. In a data-entering arrangement including a plurality of segmentalmembers, each settable by rotation from a rest position to any selectedone of a succession of data-representing positions, and includingpositioning and detent means in spring-biased contact with each of saidsegmental members for retention thereof in the positions to which theyare individually set, means for esetting the segmental memberscomprising in combination: energizing means arranged for actuation onlywhen resetting is desired; means driven by the energizing means forremoving all of said positioning and detent means from saidspring-biased contact with said segmental members for a predeterminedperiod and for releasing said positioning and detent means back intocontact with the segmental members at the end of said predeterminedperiod; a resetting member ordinarily in inoperative position butadapted to move into rotational contact with each of said segmentalmembers; and a linkage between the energizing means and the resettingmember for causing the resetting member to move and carry all of thesegmental members Which have been set to data-representing positionsback to rest position during said predetermined period and for returningthe resetting member to inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,916,538 Smith July 4, 1933 2,118,871 Thompson May 31, 1938 2,231,237Welter Feb. 11, 1941 2,697,981 Rindfieisch Dec. 28, 1954 2,707,432Rindfleisch May 3, 1955 2,869,456 Little Jan. 26, 1959' UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,025,787 March 20,1962 Ronald W. Ferguson et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 2, line 46, after "settable" insert a comma; column 3, line 11,for "in read into line 18, after "machine," insert and line 33, for"comprise" read comprises column 5, line 55, after "between" insert theside plates 11 and 12. column 7, line 35, for "41" read 51 column 10,line 69, for "F1. 2" read FIG. 2 column 12, line 64, for "he" read thecolumn 14, line 13, for "reset" read rest Signed and sealed this 11thday of September 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

